Promoting Patient-Centered Counseling to Reduce Inappropriate Diagnostic Tests
- Conditions
- OsteoporosisPrimary CareHeadacheLow Back PainMagnetic Resonance ImagingUnnecessary Procedures
- Registration Number
- NCT01808664
- Lead Sponsor
- University of California, Davis
- Brief Summary
In this study, the investigators will develop and evaluate a novel intervention using standardized patients (SPs) -- or actors playing the roles of patients -- to enhance physicians' patient-centered counseling skills regarding two frequently overused, potentially inappropriate services in primary care: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for acute low back pain and bone densitometry in women at low-risk for osteoporosis. The investigators will further evaluate whether intervention effects on physician patient-centeredness generalize to counseling regarding other costly, unnecessary diagnostic tests.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 61
- Resident physician in family medicine or internal medicine who deliver primary care at one of two hospital-based primary care clinics at the University of California, Davis Medical Center Sacramento
- Anticipated graduation in less than one year from enrollment.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Number of inappropriate diagnostic tests ordered 9 months Investigators will assess via blinded, standardized chart review whether study physicians ordered inappropriate diagnostic tests for unannounced standardized patients who request testing during three follow-up visits occurring 3 to 9 months post-randomization.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Use of patient-centered counseling techniques 9 months Physician use of patient-centered counseling techniques as assessed via masked recordings of three standardized patient visits
Actual diagnostic test ordering among real patients 9 months post-intervention Among real patients seen by study physicians, we will assess diagnostic test ordering among actual adult patients during the post-intervention period. We will also assess comparable diagnostic test ordering during the pre-intervention period to enable adjustment for baseline test ordering.
Related Research Topics
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